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Rook and knight versus two rooks is probably one of the most difficult endgames players have to face over the board. Even though an exchange is a big material advantage, it requires a good technique to be able to win this type of position, especially when one does not have a passed pawn or an extra pawn. The main objective of these types of positions is to exchange the rooks and convert into a knight versus rook endgame. The procedure to win these types of endgames is the following:
- Restrict the knight of strong squares, and eventually pin it against the king or rook.
- Slowly weaken the opponent’s strong squares, which generally are located in the center.
- Threaten to exchange rooks because rook versus knight is much easier to win, especially if there are pawns on both sides.
Alexander Alekhine vs. Isaac Kashdan (1932)
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After a really strong attack, White managed to get a rook for a knight. The problem with White’s position is that there is no easy way to get into the 7th rank, and Black has no obvious weaknesses (except the pawn on e4, which is defended by the knight and creates a backward pawn on f2). White would like to exchange rooks, but Black’s position is solid and compact.
1. Rf5 Kg6
2. Rc5 Kh7
3. Ke2 White has a really strong plan: he is going to play b5-b6 and then Rc7, threatening to exchange rooks. Black can avoid the exchange at a cost of the b7 pawn. Ng4 is not dangerous because we can respond f3. First step: Restrict the knight. g5
4. b4 Kg7
5. a4 Ng4 White is ready to finish step two: weaken the opponent’s strong squares. Black decided to fight and complicate the game.
6. f3 exf3
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7. gxf3 Nh2
8. f4! This is a strong move because it stops Black’s attack on the f3 pawn. gxf4
9. exf4 Ng4 If Rxf4, Rc7+ is strong.
10. Kf3 Nf6
11. b5 Nd7
12. Rdc5 Nf6 After the small progress in the kingside, Black’s knight is free again, and now White is going to try to restrict it again.
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13. Rf5 Kg6
14 .Rc5 axb5
15. Rxb5 The knight now is pinned and White has entered Black’s position. White is threatening to double on the “b” file and capture the pawn. Rc7
16. Rbb6 Rf7
17. a5 Kg7
18. Rb5 Now that the pawn is on a5, Alekhine decided to double rooks and to capture the pawn. Rc7
19. Rdb6 Rc3+
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